When Cheney punter Cruz Galm’s kick died at the Sandpoint two-yard line with 2:19 left in the first half Friday night, it might not have seemed significant at the moment. In just a short 87 seconds, it would become huge.

The reason is the visiting Bulldogs fumbled on their own 29, giving the Blackhawks a chance to cut into a 3-0 deficit before intermission. Quarterback Andrew Graham’s 28-yard scramble on second and 10 to the one, and his subsequent 1-yard plunge for the score and 7-3 lead gave Cheney the momentum heading into the lock...